Christopher Gray examines some king-size jokes among the darkness of Henry VIII

Mike Poulton’s new stage versions of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies for the RSC, which I review in Weekend today, come well laden with funny lines. This is surprising since their concern is the marital affairs of Henry VIII, not generally considered a laughing matter, especially for his wives.

There is a joke, in fact, in the first five words of Wolf Hall. Stephen Gardiner says “Cromwell. Late” and Thomas Cromwell, in his reply, deliberately misunderstands his enemy: “Yes — isn’t it.”

The standard of other attempts at comedy — all, I think, from Poulton rather than carried over from Mantel’s novels — is rather higher.

I enjoyed Thomas More’s arrival at Lambeth Palace where a group is waiting to press him into signing the oath of loyalty to Henry. Nodding in turn to the reception committee, he says “Thomas [Cranmer]. Thomas [Duke of Norfolk]. Thomas [Cromwell]. Charles [Suffolk]”

“Have a seat, Thomas,” says Cromwell, with a perceptible pause before the final word.

Such use of christian names is unlikely in the extreme. But why let this spoil a joke to compare with Monty Python’s roomful of Australians, all called Bruce?

As one born and raised in Peterborough, I heard with resigned dismay Henry’s reply to Wyatt — Thomas, naturally — when he informs the monarch that Katherine of Aragon is to be buried in the cathedral there, rather than at St Paul’s: “Well, Peterborough is as good a place as any. If you’re dead.”